Power Grid Strategy Manager (Hybrid Office Schedule)

AFL manufactures industry-leading fiber optic cable connectivity and accessories and provides engineering and installation services for some of the largest telecom customers in the world. Our company was founded in 1984 with a single fiber optic cable and today we manufacture thousands of products generate an excess of $2B in revenue and employ approximately 11000 associates worldwide. At AFL we recognize that our employees are our greatest asset. We hire and train each individual investing in them to ensure success in their careers. With a commitment to professional development and growth let us connect you to your next career opportunity.

What We Offer:

• A hybrid in office schedule for qualifying employees
• Flexible time off policy
• 401K Company match (up to 4% - dollar for dollar)
• Professional development training and tuition reimbursement programs
• Excellent medical dental vision and life insurance policy options
• Opportunities for career advancement with an industry leading company!

The energy landscape is undergoing a structural transformation. Aging transmission and distribution infrastructure must absorb unprecedented load growth from electrification and AI-driven data centers integrate variable renewable generation at scale and harden against extreme weather and physical threats all while operating reliably across a converging grid that no longer operates siloed between electric utility front-of-the-meter (FTM) and non-utility behind-the-meter (BTM) systems.

AFL is seeking a Grid Solutions Strategy Manager Energy to define and drive AFLs grid-wide technology strategy across this full FTM-to-BTM spectrum. This role serves as the Energy Business Units (BU) principal technology strategist within Market Development translating macro grid trends Utility Independent Power Producer (IPP) and large load investment patterns regulatory shifts and emerging architectures into a coherent technology roadmap intellectual property (IP) strategy and brand position for AFLs portfolio of optical electrical and power-delivery solutions.

This is a high-influence role with significant cross-functional reach. The successful candidate will shape what AFL builds where to invest how AFLs grid technology story is told and how AFLs innovation is protected directly informing and partnering with product line management engineering corporate strategy and business leadership.

• Own AFLs grid-wide technology strategy & definitive view of FTM and BTM grids spanning transmission distribution substation renewables distributed energy resources (DER) microgrids and large load power delivery.
• Translate utility IPP EPC and large load trends into prioritized technology bets.
• Monitor regulatory and standards activity (FERC NERC IEEE IEC ANSI state PUCs ISO/RTO interconnection queues NESC) and assess strategic and product implications.
• Build and maintain a competitive technology landscape map covering OEM competitors emerging entrants and adjacent-industry disruptors; identify opportunities & threats to action.
• Establish and maintain key technology assumptions which influence AFLs market & demand modeling in AFLs Integrated Business Planning (IBP) processes.
• Lead primary technology research through customer interviews utility R&D engagements lab partnerships and conference intelligence.

• Define and steward AFLs grid-technology IP strategy in partnership with engineering & legal covering patents trade secrets defensive publications and licensing posture.
• Partner with engineering leadership to build & maintain Energy BUs invention pipeline; participate/lead invention disclosure reviews and prioritize filings against strategic technology themes.
• Evaluate third-party IP technology licensing opportunities and standards-essential patent positions; recommend acquire/license/design-around strategies.
• Track competitor patent activity and surface inflection signals to product and engineering leadership.

• Provide the principal Market Development input into AFL Energys product line roadmaps grounded in grid architecture evolution rather than incremental product extensions.
• Partner with Product Line Management (PLM) to develop technology requirement frameworks for both new & existing grid solutions both FTM & BTM.
• Partner with PLM to define solution architectures system-level value propositions and reference designs that span AFLs optical & electrical infrastructure portfolios.
• Lead make/buy/partner recommendations for new technology capabilities working with Engineering PLMs Strategy and Finance.
• Serve as the BUs voice in cross-portfolio architecture discussions where Energy use-cases intersect Broadband Data Center or Services.

• Bolster AFLs position as a grid-technology authority focused on architecture system-level value and long-horizon credibility with utility CTOs planning engineers and grid strategists.
• Author and direct technology thought leadership: white papers technical position papers standards body contributions and analyst engagements.
• Partner with the Solutions Marketing Manager Energy to ensure technology messaging branding and positioning are consistent with the business strategy and market direction.
• Represent AFL externally at industry forums (IEEE PES CIGRE DistribuTECH RE EEI EPRI working groups) and within certain standards bodies.
• Build durable relationships with utility R&D and innovation leaders EPRI program managers national labs and key academic partners.

• Equip business leadership with technology investment recommendations scenario analyses and inorganic-growth opportunity assessments.
• Brief executives on grid technology trends and emerging risks and opportunities.
• Enable Sales and Application Engineering with deep technical narratives for strategic accounts utilities IPPs EPCs and data centers.
• Coordinate with Solution Marketing Product Line Management Engineering Corporate Branding and Sales to ensure technology product and brand strategies stay aligned.

• Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering Power Systems Engineering or a closely related technical discipline.
• 3 - 5 years of progressive experience in the electric power industry with direct exposure to grid infrastructure utility planning or grid-edge technology.
• 3 years in technology product and/or market strategy or grid infrastructure R&D.
• Working knowledge of both FTM (transmission distribution substation interconnection) and BTM (DERs microgrids commercial & industrial large load power) systems.
• Track record of shaping product roadmaps defining technical requirements or originating new solution categories that reached commercial success.
• Experience working directly with electric utilities IPPs EPCs or other power infrastructure builders in technical advisory sales engineering or strategy capacities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with proven ability to brief executives and author technical thought leadership content.
• Comfort operating cross-functionally with engineering product management marketing sales legal and corporate strategy.

• Masters degree (MS in Transmission & Distribution Power or Electrical Engineering).
• Experience with optical fiber grid hardware OPGW/ADSS transmission distribution and substation design power & communications.
• Prior contribution to standards bodies (IEEE IEC CIGRE) or active participation in EPRI programs.
• Hands-on involvement with patent filings IP strategy or technology licensing transactions.
• Prior experience inside a transmission & distribution manufacturer grid-technology startup or utility innovation organization.
• Standards bodies: IEEE PES IEC ANSI CIGRE NESC committees
• Industry analysts trade publications and conference programs

• Approximately 25% travel predominantly domestic utility IPP EPC and data center customer sites; AFL plants and offices; industry conferences and standards meetings.
• Occasional international travel for global utility data center or technology-partner engagement

Required Experience:

Manager